Help with chick!

[txchickie]

I got him from TSC yesterday, he wasn't in good shape when I bought him but I am a sucker and couldn't leave the little guy so I bought him and got him home.

He can't really walk well, and he is TINY. He's a bantam (don't know what kind) but is half the size of the others. He ends up on his back a lot? And when he gets himself on his back he can't get back up.
He is eating and drinking, but I seperated him from the others (got 4 fuzzy headed ones and 2 of some other kind

I'm not good with specific breeds! LOL ) so he wouldn't get stepped on (he'd get on his back and get stuck and trampled

).
Would it just be best to help him pass? He is such a trooper and flops himself over to the food and water and sits and peeps at the others, he just can't get around. And he did this thing yesterday where he threw his head back and had his beak open and wouldn't bring it back down normally? He did that for about 5 minutes.
What to do?.......

 

[Cetawin]

What kind of bedding is he on? Are his legs straight or are they spraddled? How is his poo? Any discharge, wheexing, coughing etc ? What is he eating? Is he drinking? Did you give him any sugar water, scrambled egg, etc etc to try to perk him up? Is he all alone now?


Maybe put a small stuff animal in the brooder with him, add some sugar to his water, try some scrambled egg mashed up tiny.

 

[txchickie]

He's on pine shavings like all the others. I have him in a basket in the brooder by himself with the others, but the others can't get to him to walk on him. His legs are kind of drawn up, he CAN stand up but they're so weak he just kind of hops when he can

He's eating chick starter like the others, and just regular water. I have not thought to feed him anything else, I may try that. We have some of the electrolyte powder for their water, but haven't felt that any needed it. I will add it to his, good idea.

ETA: His poo is fine, not a lot because he's not eating as much as the others. No coughing, wheezing, etc...He peeps a lot. He is plenty warm enough, and not too hot.

 

[txchickie]

Okay, just got the little dude out. I went ahead and put a towel in the basket instead of the shavings, I can see poo more easily that way.
I gave him some electrolyte water, which he happily drank. I pulled it into a syringe and pushed it out where there was just a drop/bubble on the end and he pecked it and drank that way. Also when he did drink (and he does this when drinking out of the waterer, too), he throws his head back and gargles (I can hear it) but he does get it down. I am thinking something is just wrong. I did add some warm electrolyte water to the crumbles to soften them and he pecked at it a little.

I have seen him pecking at the crumbles, so he is eating but definently NOT like the others. He's just so weak!

I honestly didn't expect him to be alive this morning, but he's still hanging in there....

 

[chickenlover50010]

Awww, I hope he gets better...he is such a cutie. Try the scramble egg idea, just mash it up really well.

 

[DonnaBelle]

Just a suggestion: If you have a blender/food processor ( I have one of those small cheapie ones I use) blend up the chick food to a very fine consistancy. They can eat it much better. This is what I have been feeding my banties and they do much better. Also, mash up some boiled/scrambled egg and feed to them, lots of extra protein for the little guy. Good luck.

DonnaBelle

 

[DonnaBelle]

Just a suggestion: If you have a blender/food processor ( I have one of those small cheapie ones I use) blend up the chick food to a very fine consistancy. They can eat it much better. This is what I have been feeding my banties and they do much better. Also, mash up some boiled/scrambled egg and feed to them, lots of extra protein for the little guy. Good luck.

DonnaBelle

 

[Chicken Lil]

Poor dear. Hopefully you can make him better soon.

As an aside his color and markings look exactly like my new Light Brown Leghorns, so he may not be a banty, just really little.

Good luck!

 

[txchickie]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I just scrambled him an egg and put it in his basket (he's sleeping, I'll help him find it when he wakes). Also I will put his crumbles through my magic bullet blender so they will be easier for him to eat.
All the others are doing great with the crumbles, so I'll skip out on that extra work for them LOL!!!